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Specialty & Technique Guitar Classes

Go beyond the basics and learn the nuts and bolts of music.

If you can already play guitar, now it's time to get into the groove. With the guidance of our expert teaching artists, expand your skills and repertoire to open the wide world of guitar beyond the basics.

For intermediate players and beyond, open to students who have completed the Guitar 2 level and above. (If you're not sure where your skills fit in, visit our placement quiz.)

We suggest all guitar students consider starting with Guitar Fingerboard Theory, if you want to work on lead guitar or eventually write your own songs. It's a great primer into a wider world of musicianship.

Fingerstyle Workshop Series with Michael J. Miles

WorkshopIntermediate

Monday with Michael Miles

75 minutes  ·  Once a week for 1 week  ·  $25 ($23 members)

Location: Online

Walking Bass Groove Lab

Intermediate

Monday with Harlan Terson

80 minutes  ·  Once a week for 8 weeks  ·  $248 ($228 members)

An hour long lab to make you “badder”

Location: Lincoln Square - Lincoln Ave Campus

British Rock Songbook

Intermediate

80 minutes  ·  Once a week for 8 weeks  ·  $248 ($228 members)

Fingerpicking for Beginners

Beginner

80 minutes  ·  Once a week for 8 weeks  ·  $248 ($228 members)

Guitar Fingerboard Theory

Intermediate

80 minutes  ·  Once a week for 8 weeks  ·  $248 ($228 members)

Guitar 4Ever with Holstein

Advanced

Saturday with Ed Holstein

80 minutes  ·  Once a week for 8 weeks  ·  $248 ($228 members)

The one and only legendary folk icon, Ed Holstein holds court for acoustic guitarists.

Location: Lincoln Square - Lincoln Ave Campus

Guitar and Vocal Studio

Intermediate

Tuesday with Julia Storke

80 minutes  ·  Once a week for 8 weeks  ·  $248 ($228 members)

Grab that guitar and sing and play with others.

Location: Lincoln Park - Armitage Ave

RPA Ensemble

Advanced

Thursday with Steve Dawson

80 minutes  ·  Once a week for 8 weeks  ·  $248 ($228 members)

Location: Lincoln Square - Lincoln Ave Campus

Heroes of Flatpicking

Intermediate

80 minutes  ·  Once a week for 8 weeks  ·  $248 ($228 members)

Basics of Electric Chicago Blues Guitar

Intermediate

80 minutes  ·  Once a week for 8 weeks  ·  $248 ($228 members)

Blues Fingerstyle 1

Beginner

Monday with Chris Walz

80 minutes  ·  Once a week for 8 weeks  ·  $248 ($228 members)

You'll get a taste of the Blues with Blind Boy Fuller, Tommy Johnson, Mississippi John Hurt, and others.

Location: Lincoln Square - Lincoln Ave Campus

Blues Fingerstyle 2

Intermediate

This class alternates every session with Blues Fingerstyle 1. Mark your calendar and be sure to sign up next session.

80 minutes  ·  Once a week for 8 weeks  ·  $248 ($228 members)

Blues Fingerstyle 3: Decades of Acoustic Blues

Advanced

Monday with Chris Walz

80 minutes  ·  Once a week for 8 weeks  ·  $248 ($228 members)

Explore different aspects of Acoustic Blues a different decade each session.

Location: Online

West Side Chicago Blues Style

Intermediate

80 minutes  ·  Once a week for 8 weeks  ·  $248 ($228 members)

Acoustic Slide Guitar 1 Repertoire

Intermediate

80 minutes  ·  Once a week for 8 weeks  ·  $248 ($228 members)

Beatles Fingerstyle

Intermediate

80 minutes  ·  Once a week for 4 weeks  ·  $124 ($114 members)

Beatles Fingerstyle Guitar

Intermediate

If you would like to be contacted when this class runs again, please email Guitar Program Manager Jimmy Tomasello with your contact information.

80 minutes  ·  Once a week for 4 weeks  ·  $124 ($114 members)

Classical Guitar Basic Repertoire

Intermediate

Monday with Jacob Sweet

80 minutes  ·  Once a week for 8 weeks  ·  $248 ($228 members)

This class is a hybrid offering - students may attend either in person or by Zoom.

Location: Lincoln Square - Lincoln Ave Campus

Fingerpicking Repertoire

Intermediate

Saturday with Randy Morris

80 minutes  ·  Once a week for 8 weeks  ·  $248 ($228 members)

Your fingers can be trained to be an orchestra - a band in the hand.

Location: Lincoln Square - Lincoln Ave Campus

Fingerstyle Repertoire

Intermediate

80 minutes  ·  Once a week for 8 weeks  ·  $248 ($228 members)

Introduction to Jazz Guitar

Intermediate

Sunday with Tony do Rosario

80 minutes  ·  Once a week for 8 weeks  ·  $248 ($228 members)

No matter what genre of music you play, this class will take your playing to a whole other level.

Location: Lincoln Square - Lincoln Ave Campus

Jazz Guitar 1

Intermediate

Sunday with Tony do Rosario

80 minutes  ·  Once a week for 8 weeks  ·  $248 ($228 members)

Take your time to absorb the fundamentals of jazz guitar.

Location: Lincoln Square - Lincoln Ave Campus

Jazz Guitar 1.5

Intermediate

Monday with Tony do Rosario

80 minutes  ·  Once a week for 8 weeks  ·  $248 ($228 members)

Jazz guitar mastery is a lifelong journey and we invite you to repeat level as much as necessary before moving on to Jazz Guitar 2.

Location: Online

Jazz Guitar 2

Intermediate

Wednesday or Saturday with Tony do Rosario

80 minutes  ·  Once a week for 8 weeks  ·  $248 ($228 members)

Build your repertoire from session to session.

Location: Lincoln Square - Lincoln Ave Campus

Jazz Guitar 4ever

Advanced

Wednesday with Tony do Rosario

80 minutes  ·  Once a week for 8 weeks  ·  $248 ($228 members)

An ongoing class in the advanced study of Jazz for the guitarist.

Location: Lincoln Square - Lincoln Ave Campus

Flatpicking 1 - Rhythm

Intermediate

Tuesday with Chris Walz

80 minutes  ·  Once a week for 8 weeks  ·  $248 ($228 members)

Get a grip on your pick and work your rhythm chops.

Location: Lincoln Square - Lincoln Ave Campus

Flatpicking 2 - Technique

Intermediate

80 minutes  ·  Once a week for 8 weeks  ·  $248 ($228 members)

Acoustic Blues Guitar 1

Beginner

80 minutes  ·  Once a week for 8 weeks  ·  $248 ($228 members)

Acoustic Blues Guitar 2

Intermediate

80 minutes  ·  Once a week for 8 weeks  ·  $248 ($228 members)

Acoustic Blues Guitar Repertoire

Intermediate

Saturday with Paul Kaye

80 minutes  ·  Once a week for 8 weeks  ·  $248 ($228 members)

Continue working on the music of great traditional blues artists.

Location: Online

Acoustic Slide Guitar 1

Intermediate

80 minutes  ·  Once a week for 8 weeks  ·  $248 ($228 members)

Continuing Slide & Fingerstyle

Intermediate

80 minutes  ·  Once a week for 8 weeks  ·  $248 ($228 members)

Electric Slide Guitar

Intermediate

80 minutes  ·  Once a week for 8 weeks  ·  $248 ($228 members)

Guitar Fingerboard Theory 2

Advanced

This and other musicianship classes are offered in rotation thru the year. If you would like to be contacted when this class runs again, please email Guitar Program Manager Jimmy Tomasello with your contact information.

80 minutes  ·  Once a week for 8 weeks  ·  $248 ($228 members)

Acoustic Rolling Stones

Intermediate

80 minutes  ·  Once a week for 8 weeks  ·  $248 ($228 members)

Advancing Guitar—Chords to Riffs

Intermediate

80 minutes  ·  Once a week for 8 weeks  ·  $248 ($228 members)

Crash Bass for Guitarists

WorkshopBeginner

Saturday with Harlan Terson

90 minutes  ·  Once a week for 1 week  ·  $25 ($23 members)

Location: Online

Electric Blues Guitar: Texas Style

Intermediate

This and other musicianship classes are offered in rotation thru the year. If you would like to be contacted when this class runs again, please email Guitar Program Manager Jimmy Tomasello with your contact information.

80 minutes  ·  Once a week for 8 weeks  ·  $0 ($0 members)

Fingerpicking Classic Chicago Blues

Intermediate

80 minutes  ·  Once a week for 8 weeks  ·  $248 ($228 members)

Fingerpicking Guitar - Beyond Basic Picking Patterns

Intermediate

80 minutes  ·  Once a week for 8 weeks  ·  $248 ($228 members)

Four Fundamental Fingerpicking Patterns

Beginner

60 minutes  ·  Once a week for 8 weeks  ·  $188 ($168 members)

Great Songwriters for Guitar Players

IntermediateNew!

80 minutes  ·  Once a week for 8 weeks  ·  $248 ($228 members)

Guitar Solos for Beginners

BeginnerNew!

Tuesday with John Mead

80 minutes  ·  Once a week for 8 weeks  ·  $248 ($228 members)

Location: Lincoln Square - Lincoln Ave Campus

BB King: The King of the Blues

Intermediate

80 minutes  ·  Once a week for 8 weeks  ·  $248 ($228 members)

Neil Young Guitar Styles

Intermediate

80 minutes  ·  Once a week for 8 weeks  ·  $248 ($228 members)

Out Unplugged: Music by LGBTQ+ Artists

Intermediate

80 minutes  ·  Once a week for 8 weeks  ·  $248 ($228 members)

Playing by Ear for Guitarists

Intermediate

Tuesday with John Mead

80 minutes  ·  Once a week for 8 weeks  ·  $248 ($228 members)

Location: Lincoln Square - Lincoln Ave Campus

Rhythm Guitar

Intermediate

80 minutes  ·  Once a week for 8 weeks  ·  $248 ($228 members)

Strumming Rhythms

Intermediate

Tuesday with Barbara Silverman

80 minutes  ·  Once a week for 8 weeks  ·  $248 ($228 members)

Location: Online

Taylor Swift for Beginners

BeginnerNew!

Wednesday with Deanna Devore

90 minutes  ·  Once a week for 8 weeks  ·  $248 ($228 members)

Location: Online

Wilco Acoustic Songbook

Intermediate

80 minutes  ·  Once a week for 8 weeks  ·  $248 ($228 members)

Private Lesson Options

Our private lessons like our group classes run in 8-week sessions, however, you can begin private lessons during any week in the session. Please call our customer service folks at 773.728.6000 to register as private lesson availability is based upon individual teacher schedules.

Lessons are scheduled weekly, for 30, 45 or 60 minutes, and are available every day of the week at our Lincoln Square and Lincoln Park locations. Our experienced and professional faculty will work with you to develop an individualized program that helps you achieve your musical goals.

Stop in at either location or call the front desk at 773.728.6000 to register.


8-week Session Prices

$336 for 30 minutes ($326 for members)

$480 for 45 minutes ($465 for members)

$616 for 60 minutes ($596 for members)


Session & Registration Dates

8-week lessons: 04/24/2023 – 06/18/2023

Monday 03/20/23: Re-registration for current students begins

Monday 04/03/23: Transfer registration

Wednesday 04/05/23: Open registration

8-week lessons: 06/19/2023 – 08/13/2023

Monday 05/15/23: Re-registration for current students begins

Tuesday 05/30/23: Transfer registration

Wednesday 05/31/23: Open registration

8-week lessons: 08/28/2023 – 10/22/2023

Monday 07/10/23: Re-registration for current students begins

Monday 07/24/23: Transfer registration

Wednesday 07/26/23: Open registration

8-week lessons: 10/23/2023 – 12/17/2023

Monday 09/18/23: Re-registration for current students begins

Monday 10/02/23: Transfer registration

Wednesday 10/04/23: Open registration


Teachers

Click for teacher profiles and schedules

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